Manufacturing work has on the first F-35 Lightning II aircraft, meant for the United Kingdom (UK) has commenced last week. UK defence minister Quentin Davies, marked the occasion by signing the F-35 frame before it was loaded into the assembly jig at the BAE Systems site in UK. The work on the F-35 frame is expected to get completed by September this year. As a part of its commitment towards one of the most modern military program, the UK government has decided to purchase three F-35s to allow testing and training before inducting the combat aircraft into the Royal Air Force and Navy.
As part of the F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF) contract, BAE systems is designing and engineering the aft fuselage and empennage of the aircraft. The prime contract for the development of JSF is Lockheed Martin.
Performance: Maximum Speed: Mach 1.67 (1,283 mph, 2,065 km/h); Range: 1,200 nmi (2,220 km) on internal fuel Combat radius: 610 nmi (1,110 km) on internal fuel Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m); Thrust/weight: With full fuel: 0.84, With 50% fuel: 1.04B.
In another development, BAE Systems has bagged a US$10.5 million contract Textron Marine and Land Systems to manufacture and deliver approximately 240 armour protection kits for Armoured Security Vehicles (ASVs).
As part of the agreement, BAE systems will produce armour kits for the M1117 ASV-a turreted, armoured, all-wheel drive vehicle-and armour kits for the M1200 Armoured Knight-an ASV variant equipped with a sensor package that is used to locate and designate targets for indirect fire and laser guided weapons. The deliveries of the ASVs meant for the US Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) will commence in March this year, and are expected to be completed by July 2010.